BX 8695 

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THE 



LIFE AND LABORS 



OF 



ELIZA r: SNOW SM 



m 



WITH A FULL ACCOUNT OF HER 



FUNERAL SERVICES. 



PUBLISHED AT 

THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR OFFICE, 

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. 
1888. 



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V 



PREFACE. 



There is no apology necessary for the publication of this 
little pamphlet containing a brief account of the labors of so 
eminent a lady as Sister Eliza R. Snow Smith. Her diligent 
and unceasing exertions to promote the cause of truth in the 
earth have endeared her to every Latter-day Saint, and espe- 
cially to the sisters among whom she was constantly working. 
For the purpose of preserving in a compact form an account of 
the life and labors of this noble woman, this publication is 
issued, and not with the view of making money, as the price at 
which it is sold is barely sufficient to pay its cost. 

The Publishers. 



Life and Labors of 

ELIZA R. SNOW SMITH 



Monday morning, December 5th, at five 
minutes past one o'clock, in her apartments in the 
Lion House, this city, there passed away to the 
Paradise of God, the spirit of one of the noblest, 
best and purest women that ever graced the earth 
— Eliza E. Snow Smith. 

The news of this event will cause no surprise 
in the community, as it was generally known that 
the deceased had been gradually failing for the 
last year. She was not affected with any special 
disease, the complaint being simply a decline of 
the physical powers, superinduced by old age. 

Sister Smith's case was a remarkable instance of 
the power of mind over matter, her mental clear- 
ness never forsaking her a moment; she was con- 
scious up to within five minutes of the end. 
About ten o'clock, Patriarch John Smith, who fre- 
quently called during her sickness, was by her 
bedside, and inquired if she recognized him. The 
customary smile lit up the beautiful countenance, 
and the 1 , reply came in clear and distinct tones — 



LIFE AND LABORS OF 



"Of course I do." He blessed her, and she ex' 
pressed her thankfulness. 

Her brother, Apostle Lorenzo Snow, has been 
with her a great deal, and was by her side when 
she breathed her last. Between the brother and 
sister there has ever existed a most exquisite 
affection, that has never been interrupted by any 
incident during the long course of their lives. 

Aunt Eliza, as she was familiarly called, has 
felt for some time the probability of her passing 
to the sphere beyond, and that same resignation 
which characterized her course in all the dispen- 
sations of providence was conspicuous in relation 
to her approaching dissolution. In the presence 
of the writer a few days ago, she said, in substance: 
"I have no choice as to whether I shall die or live. 
I am perfectly willing to go or stay, as our 
Heavenly Father shall order. I am in His hands." 
While she spoke, her wonderfully lustrous, dark 
eyes shone with more than earthly brightness, and 
as she conversed with those around her, the native 
intelligence which has so strongly individualized 
her, was remarkably exhibited, considering the 
weakness of her body. 

The deceased was slightly above medium height 
and of slender build; her bearing was at once grace- 
ful and dignified. Hers was a noble countenance, 
the forehead being unusually high and expansive, 
and the features, of a slightly Hebrew cast, 
exquisitely cut as those of an artistic specimen of 
the sculptor's art. The most striking feature of 
all were those wonderful eyes, deep, penetrating, 



ELIZA R SNOW SMITH. 



full of meaning and intelligence, often illu- 
mined with poetic fire. They were indeed the 
windows of a noble soul. Her conversation was 
charming, every word being distinctly articulated, 
while her sentences were admirably constructed. 
In speech and action she was thoughtful and 
deliberate. While of susceptible and delicate 
organism, and in every way womanly, she had 
great decision of character. So deep were her 
convictions and potent her sense of morality, that 
we believe she would more readily have sur- 
rendered her life than acted in opposition to them. 
Deceased was the daughter of Oliver and 
Eosetta Leonora Pettibone Snow, and was born 
January 21st, 1804, in Becket, Berkshire County, 
Massachusetts. She was consequently aged eighty- 
three years, ten months and fourteen days. She 
was the second in a family of seven children, 
and was of unmixed Puritan stock, all lines of her 
ancestry running back through pure streams of 
New England blood. The Snow family from 
which she was descended was of Massachusetts, 
while her mother's family, the Pettibones, was of 
Connecticut. During her infancy, her parents 
removed to Mantua, Portage County, Ohio, where 
five more children were born to them. Her father 
was a farmer by occupation, but much of his time 
was devoted to public business, and he was under 
the necessity of enlisting her services in the 
capacity of secretary, a species of employment for 
which her natural capabilities rendered her well 
adapted. 



8 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

She was well skilled in household accomplish- 
ments, such as needlework and the like, but she 
possessed a literary talent which was destined to 
eclipse all commonplace acquirements. In early 
youth she began writing poems for various publi- 
cations, and had won quite a reputation among 
some of the publishers whom she had favored 
with the productions of her pen. This is suf- 
ficiently attested by the circumstance of her being 
requested to write, for publication, a requiem for 
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, whose simul- 
taneous death on the nation's natal day, 1826, 
afforded to the young authoress a theme well fitted 
for the lofty and patriotic spirit that always char- 
acterized her muse. The appearance of this poem, 
written when she was but twenty-two years of age, 
was an event that ushered her into fame. 

She was thoroughly and carefully educated in 
the best schools of the region in which she was 
reared, and in her girlhood became acquainted 
with Alexander Campbell, the noted scholar and 
theologian, and founder of the Campbel lite sect ; 
and also with Walter Scott and Sidney Rigdon, 
able co-laborers with Mr. Campbell. These were 
men of erudition, and they took pains to assist 
her in the study of the Scriptures, especially the 
prophecies of the Old Testament. It is probable 
that her scriptural studies under their tuition, 
aided in preparing her mind to receive the gos- 
pel in its fullness. 

Early in the year 1835, Sister Eliza's elder sister 
visited the Saints at Kirtland, and was deeply 



ELIZA R SNOW SMITH. 9 

impressed with their teachings. Her testimony 
caused Sister Eliza to fear that the news of the 
proclamation of the gospel by the Prophet Joseph 
was too joyful to be true. She pursued her inves- 
tigations for a short time with increasing faith, 
and at length was baptized April 5th, 1835. In 
the following December she removed to Kirtland 
and became an inmate of the Prophet Joseph's 
household, boarding with his family and teaching 
a select school for young ladies. 

On New Year's Day, 1837, a painful scene took 
place in which she was the central figure, and 
which is virtually described in her poem "What 
it is to be a Saint." On that day she bade fare- 
well to her home, the fond associations of youth 
and the flattering prospects that were opening 
before her, being fully determined to unite forever 
her fortunes with those of the persecuted Saints. 
It is supposed that she wrote the poem referred to 
about this time, and that in it are shown forth 
mental struggles and experiences of her own. 
She returned to the home of the Prophet, became 
governess to his children, and was companion to 
his wife Emma for a number of years. 

Her intimate association with Joseph the Seer, 
ripened into a holy consummation, and she, in the 
year 1843, became his wife, in accordance with the 
sacred ordinance of heaven, and the direct com- 
mand of God to her husband. She thus became 
one of the first women of this dispensation to enter 
the sacred and divine order of plural marriage. 

She generously gave her patrimony for the 



10 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

completion of the Kirtland Temple, and when the 
Saints there, yielding to the pressure of the perse- 
cution which raged with increased fierceness after 
the dedication of that structure, removed west- 
ward, she accompanied them, locating first at Far 
West and afterward at Adam-ondi-Ahman, in 
Missouri. To recount that portion of her life 
which was passed in Missouri, would be but to 
repeat the oft told tale of persecution, wrong and 
outrage to which the Saints there were subjected. 
Suffice it to say that Sister Eliza, bore a part in 
some of the most prominent and painful scenes 
that go to make up the history of those times, 
and shared in the exodus of the Saints to Illinois. 
She stopped for a short time at Quincy, and after- 
wards went to Lima, supporting herself by needle- 
work. 

In the summer of 1839, Sidney Rigdon sent for 
her to go to Nauvoo to teach his family school, 
and that city was her home until the expulsion 
from it of the people of her choice. During those 
years a lofty and prophetic as well poetical inspir- 
ation seemed almost constantly to rest upon her, 
and shines forth in radiant power in the poems 
written by her during that period. 

In the first organization of a Relief Society, 
effected in Nauvoo under the personal supervision 
of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Sister Eliza was 
chosen secretary ; and in the organization of those 
same beneficent institutions in the various stakes 
and wards of the Church, since it located in the 
mountains, her's has been in her womanly sphere, 



ELIZA R SNOW SM11H. 11 



the leading part. In connection with her labors 
among the Relief Societies, she was long and 
actively engaged in organizing the Young Ladies' 
Mutual Improvement and Primary Associations, 
taking almost, if not quite as prominent, a part 
in the work of their establishment, as in that of 
the Relief Societies. 

Early in February, 1846, Sister Smith crossed 
the Mississippi River, on the occasion of the third 
great exodus from their homes of her people since 
her connection with them. She was traveling 
with the family of Colonel Stephen Markham, a 
staunch friend of her husband's, and certain in- 
cidents and misfortunes occurred to the party 
which rendered it necessaiy for Sister Smith to 
drive an ox team from Mt. Pisgah to the Missouri 
River. At Winter Quarters she suffered terribly 
from exposure and sickness, and at one time lay 
nigh unto death. Early in June, 1847, she started 
from Winter Quarters, with the family of Brother 
Robert Pierce, and in the company led by Jede- 
diah M. Grant, on the. weary journey to Great 
Salt Lake Valley, following closely in the wake of 
the pioneers. She arrived at her jonrney's end 
early in October. President Brigham Young pro- 
vided her a home with his family immediately 
after her arrival, and she thereafter continued an 
inmate of his household. 

Among the prominent events in the life of Sister 
Smith was her journey to and from Palestine, 
made in company with President George A. 
Smith, Apostle Lorenzo Snow and other promi- 



12 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

nent brethren. The party left Salt Lake City in 
the fall of 1872, and returned in June, 1873. The 
trip is described in a volume of nearly four hun- 
dred pages, entitled "Correspondence of Palestine 
Tourists," being a compilation of letters written 
by members of the party. To this work the 
deceased contributed largely, her correspondence 
manifesting keen observation and graphic discrip- 
tive powers. 

The inspiration which vitalized her pen, and 
brought from it words as imperishable as the 
language, was not suppressed even under the most 
trying and adverse circumstances; and at frequent 
intervals of her weary journey she produced poems 
of rare beauty. 

Our sister is not dead; she simply sleeps, her 
intelligent part having gone to that bright sphere 
where the just await the time of their redemption, 
when there will be a reunion of the spirit with 
the body through the power of the resurrection. 
Having slept in peace, she has secured her title to 
be among the heavenly throng that will accom- 
pany the Lord of glory when He shall come to 
this creation to take the reins of its government. 
She has gone to mingle with the righteous who 
have kept the faith; to associate with her husband, 
the great Prophet of the last dispensation, to 
whom she has shown a sublime devotion that will 
be appreciated in the eternities to come. She was 
beloved here, where the memory of her virtues 
will be cherished, so is she beloved in the sphere to 
which she has passed. 



ELIZA R SNOW SMITH. 13 

In a"sense she is with us yet. The work she 
accomplished remains, and its fruits will multiply, 
as truth begets truth in an unceasing round. The 
part which she took under the direction of the 
Priesthood in organizing the little children, the 
young ladies and the members of her sex of all 
ages, and forwarding the work of instruction 
among them still exists, and her spirit permeates 
all these beneficent associations. Her charitable 
deeds in administering to the sick, the afflicted 
and bowed down, still live and bear their fruits, 
and there are other noble spirits who will con- 
tinue to carry forward the multiplication of good of 
the same nature. They have been her faithful 
associates and counselors while she was in life, 
and they will continue to emulate the virtues and 
noble traits with which her whole career has been 
fruitful to an extraordinary degree. 

There was a marked harmony between the 
qualities of the heart and the gifts of the intellect 
of this remarkable woman. She was a poet of 
the first order, all her poetic productions being of a 
most exalted character. Some of them are as 
sublime as ever were penned. One alone, which 
has been sung times without number, would be 
sufficient to establish her fame in this direction. 
The opening lines are : 

my Father, thou that dwellest 

In the high and glorious place ! 
When shall I regain thy presence, 

And again behold thy face ? 



14 ELIZA R. SNOW SMITH. 

In thy holy habitation, 

Did my spirit once reside? 
In my first primeval childhood, 

Was I nurtured near thy side ? 

The foregoing poetical embodiment of the doc- 
trine of pre-existence of spirits is not more striking 
than the thoughts enclosed in the concluding 
lines : 

In the heavens are parents single ? 

No ; the thought makes reason stare ! 
Truth is reason ; truth eternal 

Tells me I've a mother there. 

The purity of her life and nature necessarily 
rendered her a fit medium through whom the 
Holy Ghost could manifest those gifts and graces 
of the gospel of the Redeemer that characterized 
the disciple of the Church of Christ in ancient 
times and which also exist in it as revealed anew 
in this dispensation. It was delightful to the 
Saints to listen to the exercise by her of the gift 
of tongues, accompanied always by an influence of 
inexpressible sweetness and comfort, or to hear 
her give the interpretation of the manifestations 
of the same gift operating through herself and 
others. She also exhibited on occasions the 
prophetic power. The latest of her predictions in 
this regard was to the effect that a time of severe 
trial for the Saints was approaching, beyond which 
there was a glorious outcome for the faithful. It 
may be said concerning her that she was indeed 
"an elect lady." — Deseret News. 



FUNERAL SERVICES. 



The funeral rites over the remains of Sister E. 
P. Snow Smith were conducted on Friday, Dec. 7th, 
Pres. Angus M. Cannon presiding. Between eleven 
and twelve o'clock the pall-bearers assembled at 
the' Lion House and conveyed the body, which was 
enclosed in ajueat casket of polished natural wood, 
to the Assembly Hall, followed by relatives and 
immediate friends. The congregation assembled 
there was very large, the building being filled. 

The various stands were, in accordance with the 
wish of the departed, draped in white, nothing 
black being introduced. There was a great variety 
of floral offerings, contributed by loving hearts. 
They were of various forms, such as wreaths, 
crosses, hearts and other suggestive and appropri- 
ate devices. At noon President Cannon called the 
congregation to order. The choir sang: 
I know that my Redeemer lives; 
The opening prayer was offered by Bishop Alex- 
ander McRae. 

The choir sang that beautiful production of the 
deceased: 

"0 my Father, thou that dwellest 

In the high and glorious place! 

When shall I regain thy presence, 

And again behold thy face? 
In thy holy habitation, 
Did my spirit once reside? 



16 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

In my first primeval childhood, 
Was I nurtured near thy side? 

' 'For a wise and glorious'purpose 

Thou hast placed me here on earth, 
And withheld the recollection 

Of my former friends and birth; 
Yet oft-times a secret something 

Whispered, You're a stranger here; 
And I felt that I had wandered 

From a more exalted sphere. 
"I had learned to call thee Father, 

Through thy spirit from on high; 
But, until the Key of Knowledge 

Was restored, I knew not why. 
In the heavens are parents single? 

No; the thought makes reason stare! 
Truth is reason; truth eternal 

Tells me, I've a mother there. 
"When I leave this frail existence, 

When I lay this mortal by, 
Father, mother, may I meet you 

In your royal court on high? 
Then, at length, when I've completed 

All you sent me forth to do, 
With your mutual approbation 

Let me come and dwell with you. ' ' 

PRESIDENT ANGUS M. CANNON 

then said: The hymn just sang in our hearing con- 
tains expressions of adoration and devotion to our 
God. Sister Eliza R. Snow Smith who lies before 
us, or whose earthly remains are now contained 
in the casket before us, was one who was well fitted 
and qualified to come upon the earth at the period 
of time she did — a time when certain noble spirits 
whom God had permitted to come forth from His 



ELIZA R SNOW SMITH. 17 

presence to usher in, upon a world that lay in 
darkness, the gospel of Jesus Christ, were here 
upon the earth. From the time she first heard 
the inspired utterances fall from the lips of the 
Prophet Joseph her heart responded to the call, 
feeling it an honor to help sustain those whom 
God had raised up to enlighten mankind and pro- 
claim redemption to a fallen world. In adversity 
as in prosperity her soul adored her Maker. Her 
poetic muse took the most lofty flights, often while 
sitting with others around the camp-fire, often 
while suffering the deepest distress and greatest 
sorrow. Her heart continually rejoiced in know- 
ing that her Redeemer lived, and that men had 
been raised up to preach and expound the plan of 
salvation to the human family, and to establish 
God's kingdom in power upon the earth. When 
her voice has been heard, it has been heard stimu- 
lating her sisters to glorify their Creator, and to 
feel thankful that they had been permitted to take 
part in so great a work. It has been the good for- 
tune and happiness of your servant, who now ad- 
dresses you, to be intimately acquainted during 
the past year, more so than it has been his privi- 
lege in former years, with the deceased; although 
when a little boy — associated with the people of 
Nauvoo and of this city — he was accustomed to 
look upon her as one of the fairest, one of the pur- 
est, highest-minded, noble women that God had 
created. He was happy in knowing that she was 
counted worthy to be the wife of the great Prophet 

and Seer, God's servant Joseph Smith. She was 
1* 



18 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

ever calm and peaceful and submissive to his di- 
vine counsels, submitting her will to his will as he 
submitted his will to the will of God our Heavenly 
Father. He suffered his innocent blood to be shed 
to seal the testimony he had given us and make it in 
force for the redemption of mankind. She made her 
life to conform with that of her partner. She 
loved to serve him. She loved also to teach her 
sisters the principle of self-sacrifice, which they 
had exhibited in the midst of trials and sufferings 
and joy. Her heart pulsated with the fond hope 
that she might live many years to stimulate her 
sisters in the works of righteousness, and to plead 
with them to avoid the evils and vanities of Baby- 
lon. She desired that they should submit their 
will to the calling of wives, mothers, sisters and 
daughters of the Israel of God. She often spoke of 
the trials that awaited us, and said that trials must 
necessarily come upon us from the nature of the 
calling that God has called us to. When she found 
her bodily strength giving way, and felt she must 
succumb to the monster death, her heart glorified 
God that she would be numbered with the people 
of God, and I assured her that she would ever 
remain dear in the memory of the people of God, 
and that they would rejoice in knowing that they 
will yet enjoy her society in the endless future. At 
this assurance a smile came over her face 
which I cannot forget. All her desire was 
that her sisters would be able to resist temptation, 
and live worthy of the fellowship of God. Peace 
be to her ashes. Her soul will rest in peaee. Her 



ELIZA R. SNOW SMITH. 19 

fondest expectations will be realized. May her 
sisters emulate her example for ever and ever is 
my prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen. 

ELDER JOSEPH C. KINGSBURY. 

Brethren and Sisters: I can endorse every word 
that Brother Cannon has spoken here this morn- 
ing. This sister has now left us. She has gone to 
rest. She has made her calling and election sure. 
She was one of the earliest to embrace the new and 
everlasting covenant. She has made a sacrifice 
that God accepts. So must we also be ready and 
willing to do the same when we are called upon to 
do so. We are called to pass through persecution, 
trials and tribulation, but what are these things 
compared to the glories to be attained hereafter. 
Let us seek diligently to make our calling and 
elections sure. We have to work, to be dili- 
gent in all things, both spiritual and temporal. 
We must endeavor to overcome every evil and 
every temptation. The enemy is on the alert. He 
desires to destroy the Saints of God. But let us 
be united, and the powers of darkness cannot have 
influence over us. Our trust is in God, and He 
will deliver us. This is my prayer in the name of 
Jesus, Amen. 

ELDER J. B. NOBLE. 

I feel grateful for the opportunity of bearing tes- 
timony to the very truthful remarks that have 
been spoken in relation to our sister who lies be- 
fore us, or her remains. I can endorse every sen- 
timent, and further, I can bear record that from 






20 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

an early day, from the commencement of her con- 
nection with this work, I have been familiar with 
her labors; and I was favored above measure in her 
society across the desert, from Nauvoo to this place. 
I enjoyed her confidence, and my heart is filled 
with joy unspeakable in having the opportunity to 
bear my testimony to her life which has been one 
of the very highest grade, prepared, as has been 
said by President Cannon, to come forth in this 
dispensation, and to do a mighty work. She has 
accomplished that work in the fullest sense, and 
the time draws near, the hour is uigh, when she 
will hear the voice of her sleeping companion, 
him who laid down his life for the cause of God, 
and shed his blood for the same. She will soon 
hear his voice, for the period has rolled around. 
It behooves us who have named the name of the 
Lord, taken upon us the name of Saints, to look 
into our hearts and see if we possess the principle 
pertaining to the higher law — namely, to do unto 
others as we would have others do unto us. We 
should bless the human family that are ignorant 
in relation to this great and glorious work with 
which we are associated. In relation to the de- 
ceased, we should feel to ask the blessing of the 
Lord upon her relatives, and upon her sisters who 
are honest in heart, that they may, with firm will, 
practice those principles that she has. And 
may the honest among all people be awakened to 
a realizing sense that this latter-day work is none 
other than the work Jehovah predicted from all 
time that should precede the coming of the Son 



ELIZA R. SNOW SMITH. 21 

of Man. Let us be wise; do the bidding of the 
Holy Priesthood; work out our salvation by living 
the law of the gospel, and eternal riches, eternal 
exaltation, and eternal glory will be our portion, 
our happy lot. I ask this in the name of Jesus, 
Amen. 

ELDER JACOB GATES. 

I am glad to have the opportunity of bearing my 
testimony to what has already been said. It is 
truly a joy and satisfaction to the living to see 
such a congregation assembled as we see now be- 
fore us to pay — shall I say the last respects to our 
departed sister? It seems to me an improper term, 
from the fact that we shall long remember our sis- 
ter and her virtues, and I hope we shall endeavor 
to practice the same while we are permitted to 
live upon the earth. I have known sister Eliza 
R. Snow Smith for many years. I have been 
somewhat familiar with her personally, as she paid 
many visits to my house, in the course of which we 
had many pleasant conversations. The deceased, 
among the representative women of this last dispen- 
sation, seemed to be second to none. Morally, relig- 
iously and poetically, she seemed to be one of those 
perfect women that was prepared for the age, and to 
represent her sex in this great latter-day work, 
and she nobly filled the mission for which she was 
appointed, and in which she took her place in the 
early days of this Church. I pray our Heavenly 
Father that we may all emulate her virtues and 
cultivate the faith that she so nobly maintained 



22 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

through all the difficulties and trials of life 
through which she and this people have passed, 
never faltering. In all the conversations I ever 
had with her, her faith reached onward and up- 
ward to the very climax of human perfection of 
ideas in regard to the great work in which she was 
engaged. I hope and pray that we may be equally 
humble and faithful, and honor the memory of 
our dear departed ones. Our brethren and sisters 
are passing away constantly, and we may expect 
in the near future that there will be but a very 
few on the earth who were familiar or were ac- 
quainted with the Prophet, Joseph Smith. May 
that spirit that bears record of the Father and 
Son bear record of the truth of this great latter- 
day work, and we shall soon see consummated the 
purposes of God as He has ordained. What we are 
now passing through is what we as Latter-day 
Saints have long been looking for. It has been 
predicted by prophets and apostles and by those 
who were inspired by the spirit of revelation in 
years gone by, to my certain knowledge, and we 
need not look upon our present condition as any- 
thing new or strange in the progress and develop- 
ment of this great latter-day work. Trials must 
necessarily come to purify and prove the Saints in 
their faith and confidence in the Lord, and our 
enemies will be given an opportunity to fill up 
their cup of iniquity and to prepare themselves 
for the judgments that God has decreed must come 
sooner or later, upon those who fight Zion and 
seek to destroy her. May we be humble and gird 



ELIZA R SNOW SMITH. 23 

on the whole armor of God, and eventually be 
saved in the kingdom of God, which I pray may 
be the case with us all, in the name of Jesus, 
Amen. 

APOSTLE JOHN W. TAYLOR. 

I am thankful to hear the eulogies of my breth- 
ren who have had many years' experience with 
the deceased. I have known Sister Smith by 
reputation from my infancy, though I had not 
any personal acquaintance save by way of introduc- 
tion. I feel concerning our sister that she has finished 
her work, and that she will gain salvation in the 
kingdom of God. All others who are worthy will 
gain the same blessing. None can gain more 
than this. The Savior says: "Let your light so 
shine before men, that they may see your good 
works, and glorify your Father which is in heav- 
en." I feel that the works of Sister Smith-are be- 
fore us all. We can pattern after them with pro- 
fit. He that hath eternal life is rich. The Sav- 
ior said, "Such riches are free to all those- who 
keep the commandments of God." When the 
Savior commanded His apostles to "Go into all 
the world and preach the gospel to every crea- 
ture. He that believeth and is baptized shall be 
saved; he that believeth not shall be damned," 
He meant what he said. Our sister has embraced 
the everlasting gospel, and she is entitled to the 
blessing that the Savior and Redeemer of the 
world promised. The Savior also said, "And 
every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, 



24 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or child- 
ren, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an 
hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life." 
We have the word "mother" mentioned here. It is 
known among us that George Washington is called 
the "Father of his country" though he died without 
children. Yet through the devotion of the Ameri- 
can people he has earned the name of Father. 
Inasmuch as the deceased was deprived of bear- 
ing children, she is entitled to be called Mother 
among this people, just as much as George Wash- 
ington is to be called Father by the people'of the 
United States. She has been a mother to this 
people. She has passed through trials and tribu- 
lations. She has made us joyful by her poetical 
effusions; we have sorrowed when she sorrowed, 
and we have rejoiced when she rejoiced. I pray 
that all who have seen her good works may en- 
deavor to emulate them, and thus receive the re- 
ward of the just. I do not desire to lengthen my 
remarks. I pray God the Eternal Father that 
whenever we think of Eliza R. Snow Smith,, we 
will not think of her as "Aunt Eliza" in the future, 
but that we may in truth and righteousness call her 
Mother. 

ELDER MILO ANDRUS. 

It is with gratitude and great thanksgiving in my 
heart that I am permitted to say a few words on 
this present occasion, having had the acquaint- 
ance of Sister Eliza for the last forty-five years, or 
thereabouts ; and having never a speck, or a blot, 



ELIZA R SNOW SMI1H. 25 

or anything that would indicate a misstep in all 
her life, and having been comforted and cheered 
b} 7 her good counsels and advice, I feel to bear my 
testimony to the virtue and goodness and integrity 
of her heart while upon this earth. This might 
be considered by some a day of mourning. I do 
not so consider it. I know the reluctance of rela- 
tives to part with friends, and perhaps they may 
look upon this occasion as a time of mourning. 
But I cannot feel that way. My whole being 
magnifies the name of my God when I reflect 
upon the wise counsels and instructions of the de- 
parted. In relation to what the brethren have said 
in regard to her being Mother, I bear my testimony 
that thousand and tens of thousands will call her 
Mother in Israel and enjoy her society forever and 
ever. We have a subject before us that has ful- 
filled the royal law of God as far as it has been 
revealed. Indeed, when she meets her entire acts 
upon this earth, she is one of that class that can 
face her record and look at it complacently. 
She has acted an honorable part, and her deeds 
will secure unto her the highest exaltation in the 
eternal worlds. Under these circumstances there 
cannot be any death, cannot be any mourning, 
but our sympathies on the present occasion are 
drawn out exceedingly, especially the sympathies 
of those who have been benefited by her wise 
instructions, and made to rejoice in the beautiful 
songs that God inspired her to give unto Israel. 
If we had had one before us that had denied the 
faith, we might bow our heads in mourning; but 



26 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

on the present occasion we have one who has 
gained eternal salvation, and it is to be hoped that 
the Israel of God will endeavor to emulate her 
example and fulfill the measure of their being 
upon this earth. Many thousands of the sisters in 
Israel who prized her instructions will feel 
sad on this occasion, but they know that the 
deceased has merely gone to sleep; it is a death 
here and birth there. Every heart is raised with 
thanksgiving when we contemplate her life among 
the Saints of the Most High. In the deepest 
of her tribulations, I never heard such a thing 
as a murmur fall from the lips of the deceased. 
Such a statement could be made of very few. I 
am afraid there is a large per cent of the Latter- 
day Saints who could say that their feelings gave 
way once in a while. But let us follow the 
example of our sister, and carry out the whole law 
of God, that we may have joy with her in our 
future state. I feel pleased in the contemplation 
as to where our sister has gone — not pleased that 
she has gone from our presence, but pleased to think 
of the society she has gone to embrace, the God- 
like men and women who have gone before us, 
and I expect ere long to join that heavenly choir 
and enjoy the society of those I love. May God 
add His blessings upon the relatives and acquaint- 
ances of the deceased. May we endeavor to emu- 
late her example, and do the will of God on earth 
as it is done in the heaven, which I ask in the 
name of Jesus, Amen. 






ELIZA R SNO W SMITH. 27 

ELDER A. O. SMOOT. 

Words of eulogy will fail to add anything to the 
well-known characteristics of Sister Eliza Snow, 
who has departed this life. She has been known in 
this Church, I suppose, from the beginning. She 
is known to the present generation. She has been 
known in her official capacity from the city of Nau- 
voo to these mountains, and she is known to the 
offspring of the fathers in Israel in this present 
generation. What I might say of my acquaint- 
ance with her, I presume, would not add a straw to 
the good feeling towards and confidence in Sister 
Eliza. She has inherited the riches of eternal life, 
which are the greatest gift of Grod. She has added 
her testimony in a great many ways to this work — 
in literary works, by her own voice, and more 
especially has she borne testimony to the work of 
the last days in her examples. Precept is a very 
good thing; we can talk a great deal; but 
examples tell, and Sister Eliza's example has 
had far more power and influence than her 
precept has had, although, so far as I know 
in my associations with her in my family, 
her precepts have ever been worthy of emu- 
lation. This audience are acquainted with these 
facts, and it is but very little use to repeat 
them further than to bear our testimony to the 
goodness of Sister Eliza. Peace be to Sister Eliza, 
and to her dust, and to her name; and let us en- 
deavor to so live that we may enjoy her society 
behind tbfe vail — meet her with Joseph and 
Hyrum, and with David Patten and with other 



28 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

martyrs that have passed behind the vail, for the 
gospel's sake. That we may be able to follow 
her example, and secure the same glory, which is 
eternal, is my prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen. 

ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON. 

Brother Smoot and the other brethren who have 
spoken on this interesting occasion have expressed 
my thoughts and views in reference to our beloved 
sister as well, if not better, than I have the power 
to express them myself. It is our duty, in common 
with that of all others, to devote ourselves thorough- 
ly and completely to the work of bringing our con- 
dition into harmony with the truth of our Heav- 
enly Father. In order to do this it is needful that 
we cultivate that power we have inherited from 
Him, to grasp and comprehend the truth, and 
when it is in us and our thoughts are occu- 
pied in the contemplation of it, we have within 
us the thought that is in the mind of God. He 
is the fountain of life and intelligence. It is 
especially necessary that we should bring our 
moral natures into unison with the truth when 
we comprehend it, and also that our sympathies 
should extend to all the creatures that have been 
formed by the God of heaven. In none of these 
respects, according to my opinion and my convic- 
tion, which is deep rooted, was our sister deficient. 
She had a mind of uncommon brightness and 
capacity ; she was continually endeavoring to 
make it the storehouse of the truths of time and 
eternity, and she also exercised the great gifts 



ELIZA R. SNOW SMITH. 29 

which she possessed, not for her own benefit, but 
for the benefit of others, not hiding her light under 
a bushel, but shedding its rays upon all those who 
came within her sphere or in contact with her. 
Those truths that dwelt in her mind were embodied, 
as has been already stated, in a literary form, and 
they are now left to us, many of them, as a legacy, 
clothed in all the beauty that chaste language 
and exquisite imagery give them. Her morality 
was, according to all that was known of her, spot- 
less, and it was exhibited, as has been stated 
already, by a constant effort .to impress upon her 
sisters and all her associates the necessity of their 
conduct being in strict line with the principles of 
righteousness. Her works exhibit the comforting 
fact that she had a heart that could feel for 
another. Sympathy was one of her leading char- 
acteristics ; consequently she exhibited in her 
career that true religion, the essence of religion, 
that is admirable wherever it is seen. She was 
found by the side of the sick, administering com- 
fort to those who were afflicted, and consoling those 
who were bowed down in grief. In fact I will say 
that as she was a poet of great excellence, the 
greatest production in this respect that she has 
given to the world has been her life, which has 
been a poem from its commencement to its close. 
May peace be with her ashes, and comfort rest upon 
those who remain is the prayer of a sincere friend 
who loved Sister Eliza. 



30 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

BIHOP O. F. WHITNEY. 

I shall not attempt to say the hundredth part of 
what I feel on this occasions, for I have neither the 
time nor the inclination to do so. It fell to my lot 
in connection with a number of the brethren, on 
two occasions during the last illness of Sister Eliza, 
to place my hands upon her head, at her request, 
and bless her in the name of the Lord; and I could 
not help but mark the free flow of the Spirit and 
the great desire which welled up in our hearts to 
bless her with all things spiritual and temporal. 
It seemed as though there was no end to the 
promises which we felt to make her, and it is my 
testimony that she was worthy of all that any man 
of God or woman of God ever felt to place upon 
her head; and the proof is, not only in her life, 
which is before us, and before the world, and the 
love and confidence of her associates, but in this 
sanction and approval of the Spirit of God, which 
never yet sanctioned that which was false or 
deceptive. I regard our departed sister as one of 
the noble and great ones of God, one of those 
spoken of by Father Abraham, who said, "The 
Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelli- 
gences that were organized before the world was; 
and among all these there were many of the noble 
and great ones; and God saw these souls that they 
were good, and he stood in the midst of them and 
he said, These will I make my rulers." It fell to 
the lot of Sister Eliza to be honored of God and 
of man. It is not always given to these noble 
spirits to be so distinguished or so much thought 



ELIZA R SNOW SMITH. 31 

of in the world. Some walk the streets in rags; 
some may sit upon thrones; some are among the 
lowly and some among the high; some are rich 
and others poor ; but whether men honor them or 
not, they are the honored and chosen of God never- 
theless ; they are His jewels, which He will gather 
up when He comes. It was Sister Eliza's fortune, 
not only to hold position, not only to be honored 
with public trust, but to wisely use that trust, that 
power and authority; and this to me is more 
important than to hold office — to wisely and 
justly and kindly exercise its powers. I feel to 
say, may God bless her memory. She lives. She 
has gone to live. She is not dead. The first thing 
which struck my mind on entering this building 
was the beauty and appropriateness of these 
emblems, this white drapery, these beautiful 
flowers, these sprigs of green, which whisper not 
of death, but of life. White is God's mourning 
color. Winter is typical of death and when it 
binds the earth in icy fetters, God sends the snow, 
an emblem of purity and hope, to speak of com- 
ing Spring and life beyond. May God bless you 
my brethren and sisters. May He help us to 
emulate the noble example which our sister has 
left us. May we live worthy to meet with her 
and others of the just who have gone before, is 
my prayer through Jesus Christ, Amen. 

APOSTLE HEBER J. GRANT. 

As has been said by former speakers, there is 
nothing that I might say that could add to the 



32 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

record that has been made by Sister Eliza. I know 
of no individual that has made a better record. I 
know of no individual whose every act has been 
done with a desire for th e advancement of God's king- 
dom. I know of no individual in all my acquaint- 
ance that is more worthy of eternal blessings from 
God, our Eternal Father, than our departed sister. 
I do not feel to mourn to-day in the least. I feel, 
on the other hand, instead of mourning, to rejoice 
that one that has labored so long, so energetically, 
and so faithfully, has gone home to receive the 
great reward that she is entitled to. It is pleasing 
to all of us, after we have labored for the accom- 
plishment of anything on earth to receive the 
reward, and it is a day of rejoicing to our sister, 
that, after a long and useful life, she has received 
the reward that she is entitled to. It has been my 
happy lot to be intimately acquainted with Sister 
Eliza from my youth. I have received many acts 
of kindness at her hands, and much instruction. 
I know of no sister in all Israel that has taken 
the pains to bear testimony to me of the truth of 
the gospel — with the exception of my own mother 
— as often and as earnestly as our departed sister. 
I have neither the language nor the ability to 
express to you on this occasion the feelings that 
fill my heart. There is nothing so dear to the 
human heart as the testimony of Jesus Christ, 
and there is nothing that can cause that same 
rejoicing to fill our hearts as when we know that 
one that has this testimony borne unto her has 
done nothing that would mar that testimony, but, 



ELIZA R SNOW SMITH. 33 

on the other hand, has day by day and year by 
year grown and increased in that testimony. I 
love good works and good examples. I am so 
constituted that I rejoice in the labors and in the 
good examples that are set by those holding res- 
ponsible positions among the Elders of Israel or 
among the sisters. I think more of good examples 
than I do of precept ; and I can say on this 
occasion, and say it truthfully that there was no 
example that was ever set by Sister Smith but 
was worthy of emulation. I know that Sis- 
ter Smith's friends are happy on this occasion. 
They may mourn her loss, but they are happy in 
the thought that she has gone to gain the reward 
of a good record. It is a pleasure to labor for the 
advancement of God's kingdom. Parents feel 
anxious when their sons depart on missions, but 
are pleased that they are worthy to go and pro- 
claim the gospel to the nations of the earth. 
Therefore, instead of feeling sorry upon this occa- 
sion, we feel to rejoice that Sister Eliza has filled 
well her mission and will reap her reward. That 
we may labor to accomplish the designs of our 
Heavenly Father, is my prayer in the name of 
Jesus, Amen. 

PRESIDENT CANNON. 

The time has now arrived to bring these ser- 
vices to a close. I will, however, state the feeling 
the deceased expressed shortly before her death. 
She desired that no one should exhibit sorrow or 
emotion at her departure; that if there should be 



34 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

any drapery it should be white; that there should 
be a few flowers if her friends felt to contribute them; 
and that her coffin should be made of native 
mountain pine. She maintained to the last all 
the dignity of her womanly nature peculiar to 
herself. She was also submissive to the Priest- 
hood of God equally to the humblest daughter in 
the land. And she was not only, as Brother Tay- 
lor has said, a mother to this people, but was the 
head of a large organization in the Church 
known as the Relief Society of our Church. She 
was sustained as such at our late Conference, and 
to-day her absence is mourned by a people who 
appreciate her worth. While we can congratulate 
her upon her release, we feel to mourn her ab- 
sence. 

The choir then sang the beautiful song composed 
by the deceased: 

BURY ME QUIETLY WHEN I DIE. 

When my spirit ascends to the world above, 
To unite with the choirs in celestial love, 
Let the finger of silence control the bell, 
To restrain the chime of a funeral knell, 
Let no mourning strain — not a sound be heard, 
By which a pulse of the heart is. stirred — 
No note of sorrow to prompt a sigh; 
Bury me quietly when I die. 

I am aiming to earn a celestial crown — 
To merit a heavenly, pure renown; 
And, whether in grave or in tomb I'm laid, 
Beneath the tall oak or the cypress shade; 
Whether at home with dear friends around; 



ELIZA R SNOW SMITH. 35 

Or in distant lands upon strangers' ground — 
Under Wintry clouds or a Summer sky; 
Bury me quietly when I die. 

What avail the parade and the splendor here, 

To a legal heir to a heavenly sphere? 

To the heirs of salvation what is the worth, 

In their perishing state, these frail things of earth? 

What is death to the good but an entrance gate 

That is placed on the verge of a rich estate 

Where commissioned escorts are waiting by? 

Bury me quietly when I die. 

On the "iron rod" I have laid my hold; 

If I keep the faith, and like Paul of old 

Shall have "fought the good fight" and Christ the 

Lord 
Has a crown in store with a full reward 
Of the holy Priesthood in fullness rife, 
With the gifts and the powers of an endless life, 
And a glorious mansion for me on high; 
Bury me quietly when I die. 

When the orb of day sinks down in the west — 
When its light reclines in the evening's crest — 
When the lamp in the socket is low and dim — 
When the cup of life is filled up to the brim — 
When the golden Autumn's brief glass has run, 
And gray Winter with whit'ning tread moves on— 
When the arrow of death from its bow shall fly : 
Bury me quietly when I die. 

Like a beacon that rises o'er ocean's wave, 
There's a light — there's a life beyond the grave; 
The future is bright and it beckons me on 
Where the noble and pure and the brave have gone; 
Those who have battled for truth with their mind 
and might, 



36 LIFE AND LABORS OF 

With their garments clean and their armor bright; 
They are dwelling with Grod in a world on high: 
Bury me quietly when 1 die. 

Benediction by Patriarch John Smith. 

The congregation passed in line around the 
casket and viewed the face of the dead. 

The cortege which followed the remains to the 
private cemetery of the late President Brigham 
Young was formed under the direction of Bishop 
John R. Winder. Members of the High Council 
of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion acted as pall-bear- 
ers. Immediately following the casket were Apos- 
tle Lorenzo Snow and other relatives of the de- 
ceased, then the widows of the late President 
Young and other intimate associates of the de- 
ceased; following these were the members of the 
relief and other societies over which Sister Smith 
had presided, the general assemblage bringing up 
the rear. 

At the grave Apostle Heber J. Grant offered up 
the dedicatory prayer, and President Angus M. 
Cannon, at the request of Apostle Lorenzo Snow, 
thanked the people for showing their respect for 
the deceased by turning out in such large num- 
bers. The mortal remains of one of the noblest 
and purest women are now laid in their last rest- 
ing place, to await the sounding of the trump of 
the resurrection. 

The following beautiful verses were pen ned by 
Sister Snow a short time before her demise: 



ELIZA R. SNOW SMITH. 37 



MY EPITAPH. 

'Tis not the tribute of a sigh 

From sorrow's heaving bosom drawn; 
Nor tears that flow from pity's eye 

To weep for me when I am gone: 
No costly balm, no rich perfume — 

No vain sepulchral rite, I claim — 
No mournful knell — no marble tomb — 
No sculptur'd stone to tell my name. 

A richer, holier tithe I crave 

Than time-proof monumental piers — 
Than roses planted on my grave, 

Or willows dripped in dewy tears. 
The garlands of hypocrisy 

May be equip'd with many a gem; 
I prize the heart's sincerity 

Above a princely diadem. 

In friendship's mem'ry let me live: 

I know no selfish wish beside — 
I ask no more; yet, forgive 

This impulse of instinctive pride. 
The silent pulse of memory 

That beats to the unuttered tone 
Of tenderness, is more to me 

Than the insignia of a stone: 

For friendship holds a secret cord, 

That with the fibers of my heart 
Entwines so deep, so close; 'tis hard 

For death's dissecting hand to part. 
I feel the low responses roll 

Like far-off echoes of the night, 
And whisper softly through my soul, 

I would not be forgotten quite. 



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No. 1. 

DOCTRINES 

OF TKiC 

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS; 

ITS FAITH AND TEACHINGS. 



BY ELDER JOHN MORGAN. 



" Search the Scriptures : for in them ye think ye have eternal 
life, and they are they which testify of me."— John v. , 39. 

"To the law and to the testimony : if they speak not according to 
this word, it is because there is no light in them."-- Isaiah 
viii., 20. 

WE believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, 
Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, 
and not for Adam's transgression. 

We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all man- 
kind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances 
of the gospel. 

We believe that to obtain salvation it is necessary to obey 
the following principles of truth : 

FAITH. 

The principle of faith is the moving cause of all action. A 
man must have faith to believe that God will answer his 
prayers before he will offer them. It requires faith to accom- 
plish any given work to which we set our hands. 



2 REPENTANCE. 

Noah had faith in the promises Grod made to him, while the 
world of mankind perished through their lack of faith. Faith 
caused Noah to act, while the unbelieving people of his day, 
who had not faith, derided and refused to accept his testi- 
mony, and the result was that Noah and his household were 
saved, while destruction overtook the unbelievers. 

Lot believed the word of the Lord and fled out of Sodom, 
while the people stood still and perished. 

The same results follow the acceptance or rejection of the 
principle in all ages of the world. 

" So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word 
of Grod" [Rom. x. 17). "But without faith it is impossible 
to please Him : for he that cometh to Grod must believe that 
He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek 
Him " {Heb. xi 6). "For unto us was the gospel preached, 
as well as unto them : but the word preached did not profit 
them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" 
(ffcb,iv. 2). 

REPENTANCE. 

Repentance we believe to be sorrow for and turning from 
sin. Not moaning and groaning over the past and continue the 
same way of living ; but be honest, quit lying, drinking, 
swearing, stealing and be virtuous, charitable, forgiving, and 
serve Grod in spirit and truth — this is repentance. 

" Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish " (Lvke xiii. 
3). "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" {Mark i. 15). 
"Repent, * * * * every one of you" (Acts ii 38). Grod 
" commandeth all men everywhere to repent " (Acts xvii. 30). 
" Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with 
his neighbor : * * * neither give place to the devil. Let 
him that stole steal no more. * * * Let no corrupt com- 
munication proceed out of your mouth, * * grieve not the 
Holy Spirit of Grod. * * Let all bitterness, and wrath, and 
anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, 
with all malice" (Eph. iv. 25-31). " Envyings, murders, 
drunkenness, re veilings, and such like : of the which * * they 
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of Grod ' ' 
(Gal v.2\). 



BAPTISM. 6 

The necessity for baptism was plainly taught by our Savior 
and the apostles. Comparatively speaking, it stood in the 
same light to the kingdom of God that the oath of allegiance 
stands to any temporal government. Jesus stated to Nicode- 
mus that a man could not enter the kingdom of God without 
having first obeyed this ordinance. 

To become a citizen of an earthly government where a per- 
son is not born so, a man is required to subscribe to a certain 
prescribed oath. To become a citizen of the government of 
God requires that a person must be baptized in water, in obe- 
dience to the commands of the Great Head of the government, 
and the laws of the kingdom as they are found in the Bible, 
the book of commandments for the Church of Christ. 

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every 
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" 
{Mark xvi. 15, 16). "Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man 
be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the 
kingdom of God" {John Hi. 5). "Go ye therefore, and teach all 
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of 
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" {Matt, xzviii. 19). "Repent, 
and be baptized, every one of you" {Acts ii. 38). 

Its form should be by immersion. "Buried with Him in 
baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through faith' ' 
{Col. ii. 12). "Were all baptized, with him in the river 
Jordan" {Matt. Hi. 16, Mark i. 5-9). "Jesus when He was 
baptized, went up straightway out of the water" {Matt. Hi. 16; 
Mark i. 10). "John also was baptizing in iEnon near to 
Salim, because there was much water there" {John Hi. 23). 
"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain 
water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water ; what doth 
hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest 
with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and 
said, I believe tha^ Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he com- 
manded the chariot to stand still : and they went down both 
into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized 
him" [Acts via. 36-38). 

Its object. — "John did baptize in the wilderness, and 
preach the baptis in of repentance for the remission of sins' 
{Mark i. 4). "And he came into all the country about Jordan, 



4 RECEPTION OP THE HOLY GHOST. 

preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins' 
{Luke Hi. 3). "Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be I 
baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for | 
the remission of sins" (Acts ii. 38). " Arise and be baptized, 
and wash away thy sins" (Acts xxii 16). 

RECEPTION OF THE HOLY GHOST BY THE LAYING ON 
OP HANDS. 

The vital importance of this ordinance seems to be entirely 
overlooked by the majority of the Christian world, yet the 
most emphatic stress was placed upon it by the early teachers 
of Christianity. It is referred to, frequently by every writer 
in the New Testament. 

The nature of its workings and the manner of obtaining it 
were carefully dwelt upon by the various writers, and it does 
seem that only willful blindness could so far lead the people 
away from the primitive custom and practice of the laying on 
of hands to acquire this gift. 

But some may answer, "We are already in possession of 
the Holy Ghost." 

We ask then, "Will it do the same things it did anciently?" 
If not, why not ? What has caused it to lose its power, and 
become the uncertain teacher it is to-day ? For if the Chris- 
tian world of the present age is in possession of this blessing, 
why does it teach the people of one church that a certain prin- 
ciple is true and the people of another church that the same 
principle is untrue ? What of the multiplied thousands of 
beliefs, creeds, faiths, dogmas and doctrines that flood the 
land ! Are they all inspired by the Spirit of God, the gift of 
the Holy Ghost, and sustained by the doctrines of the Bible ? 
If not, which are right and which wrong ? 

These are questions of great importance, and should be 
well considered. Let the word of God speak for itself in the 
following quotations : 

"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy 
Ghost came on them ; and they spake with tongues and pro- 
phesied" (Acts xix. 6). "Then laid they their hands on them, 
and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw 
that through laying on oj the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost 



AUTHORITY. 5 

ras given, he offered them money" (Acts v. 17). "Neglect 
lot the gift that is in thee which was given thee by pro- 

)hecy, with the laying on of hands of the presbytery" (I. lim. 
\v. 14). ''Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou 
stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of 

ly hands" (11. Tim. i. 6). "Of the doctrine of baptisms, 
md of laying on of hands" {Heb. vi. 2). "Now concerning 
spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. * * 

for to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom ; to 
[nother the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another 

tith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the 

ime Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another 

£:ophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers 

/'nds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues" 

a ee context, 1. Cor. xii) "Our gospel came, in power * * 

re ,d in the Holy Ghost" (/. Ihess. i. 5). "And ye shall 

ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost ' ' ( Acts ii. 38). 

We here introduce the testimony of some.of the Christian 

"writers who wrote immediately after the death or banishment 

of the apostles : 

Tertullian, in the second century, says, "After baptism, 
succeeds the laying on of hands, with prayer, calling for the 
Holy Ghost." 

Cyprian, writing in the third century, says, "Our practice 
is, that those who have been baptized into the church should 
be presented, that by prayer and imposition of hands they 
may receive the Holy Ghost. ' ' 

Augustine, in the fourth century, says, "We still do what 
the apostles did when they laid their hands on the Samaritans 
and called down the Holy Ghost upon them" (Gahans 
Church History, page 73; Mosheim's Church History, volume 
1, page 91). 

AUTHORITY. 

We believe that a man must be endowed with authority 
before God will recognize his acts as a minister of the gospel. 

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and 
ordained you" (John xv. 16). 



b APOSTASY. 

" For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man 
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy 
Ghost" (II. Peter i. 21). 

"He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me' 
(John xiii. 20). 

" As thou hast sent me into the world" {John xvii. 18). 

"Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound i 
heaven; whatsoever ye loose on earth shall be loosed ir 
heaven" [Matt. xvii. 18). 

" And when they had ordained them elders in ever >r 
Church" (Actsiv. 23). 

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have no^ t 
believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom the^ s 
have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher^ 
and how shall they preach except they be sent?" (Rom. r Qn 
14, 15). 

" And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he th f 
is called of God, as was Aaron" (Eeb. v 4).* 

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any 
other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto 
you, let him be accursed " {Gal. i. 8). 

These were the principles taught by the Savior and His 
apostles, and we see no reason for their alteration and change 
to the present accepted ideas of the Christian world; and but 
for the 

APOSTASY 

of the primitive Christian church they would have remained 
emphatically the same, with apostles, prophets, healings, gifts, 
tongues, etc. , to the present day. 

Paul, by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, wrote to the saints, 
prophesying, of the future. "Now the Spirit speaketh 
expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the 



*— "Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak 
well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth 
thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him. and put 
words in his mouth; and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and 
will teach you what ye shall do" (Exodus iv. 14, 15). 



APOSTASY. 7 

faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" 
(I. Tim. iv. 1). 

" And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as 
with the servant, so with his master, as with the maid, so 
with 'her mistress; as with ttie buyer, so with the seller; as 
with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of 
usury, so with the giver of usury to him. * * * The earth 
also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they 
have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the 
everlasting covenant" (Isa. xxiv. 2-5). 

"And he shall speak great words against the Most High, 
and shall wear out the Saints of the Most High, and think to 
change times and laws : and they shall be given into his hand 
until a time and times and the dividing of time" (Dan. vii. 
26). 

" And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto 
the beast. * * * And it was given unto him to make war with 
the saints, and to overcome them ; and power was given him 
over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" (Rev. xii. 4-7). 

' ' Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. * * * Let no man deceive you by any means : 
for that day shall not come, except there come a falling 
away first" (//. Jhess. ii. 1-3). 

" This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall 
come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, 
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthank- 
ful, unholy, without natural affection, truce- breakers, false 
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than 
lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the 
power thereof; from such turn away" (If. Tim. Hi. 1-5). 

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound 
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to them- 
selves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away 
their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables' ' 
(II Tim. iv. 3). 

" The priests thereof teach for hire" (Micah Hi. 11). 

From the foregoing the reader can readily see that the pro- 
phets and apostles of God were looking forward to the time 



8 APOSTASY. 

when the saints would be overcome, their church broken up, 
their officers killed, and no one left upon the earth with 
authority to administer in the ordinances of the gospel. No 
prophets, no apostles, no gift of the Holy Ghost, no one to act 
as a mouth-piece to the children of men. Only darkness and 
unbelief, war and bloodshed, strife and contention, division 
and discord, lo here and lo there. 

Through all the long ages, from the day when the power of 
a corrupt and licentious church overcame the saints of the 
Most High, drove them into dens and caves of the mountains; 
caused them to wander, clothed in sheepskins and the skins of 
wild animals; killed the prophets of Grod, and drove the Priest- 
hood from the face of the earth; men, left to their own devices 
went into such excesses that angels must have wept over their 
condition. 

The laws of Grod were ignored, the ordinances were changed 
and the everlasting covenant was broken. The "woman" 
(church) arrayed in purple and scarlet, drunken with the 
blood of the saints, mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of 
harlots, rose up and bore universal sway; and, as time passed 
by, gave birth to a legion of children — churches {Rev. xvii 4-6). 

kl The mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who 
now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And 
then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall con- 
sume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the 
brightness of His coming" (II. Thess. ii. 7, 8). 

These were the words of the great apostle; and, reader, by 
examining the balance of the chapter, you can form some idea 
of the great power that was to grow up and deceive the 
nations of the earth, perverting the" gospel, teaching men and 
women that prophets and apostles were not necessary, that the 
gifts of the Holy Grhost were no longer required; until to-day, 
warring, jarring Christianity has become a spectacle to the 
whole world. 

Confusion confounded reigns supreme, wars and rumors of 
wars are on every hand, until the heart sickens and the soul 
faints in contemplation of the terrible condition to which 
poor, suffering, deceived and misguided humanity has been 
brought. 



• RESTORATION. 9 

The power of the evil one would seem to have obtained 
universal sway over the hearts of men, leading them on the 
broad road to destruction, with no power sufficient to stem the 
mighty current of sin. 

RESTORATION. 

But a just God has decreed that the day should come when 
"Righteousness shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the 
great deep," or, in other words, " at the end of a time and 
times and dividing of time, ' ' He would again assert His power 
and authority on the earth, and bring to pass His purposes. 

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set 
up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the king- 
dom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in 
pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for- 
ever" {Dan. ii. 44). 

This prophecy of Daniel's affords us some conception of the 
power of the kingdom. By reading the entire chapter we 
learn that Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream ended 
with the setting up of the kingdom of God upon the earth, 
never more to be thrown down. 

The Babylonish kingdom, which flourished in the days of 
Daniel, in the fifth and sixth centuries before Christ, was suc- 
ceeded by the Medio-Persian government from 538 to 331, 
B. C. The Macedonian kingdom, founded by iUexander the 
Great continued from 331 to 161, B. C. ; while the Roman 
empire succeeded the last named kingdom, from 161, B. C. to 
483, A. D. 

These governments successively represented the head of 
gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of 
brass, and the legs of iron. 

Now, lastly should come the kingdoms represented by the 
feet and toes, or the kingdoms or to-day, partly strong and 
partly broken. In the days of these kings should the God of 
heaven set up a kingdom never more to be thrown down. 

"But," says one, "that was accomplished in the days of 
Christ!" 

No, certainly not; for if so, why then did He, when He 
instructed His disciples to pray, tell them to pray for an 



10 RESTORATION. 

already accomplished fact: "Our Father, who art in heaven, 
hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be 
done in earth, as it is in heaven?" Have Christians through- 
out the world, for nearly two thousand years past been taught 
to pray for the coming of an event which had already tran- 
spired? 

The dividing of times had not yet come; but by turning to 
the Book of Revelation, we read how the power and authority 
of Grod, and the principles of the true and everlasting gospel 
were to be restored to the earth; how the kingdom spoken of 
by Daniel, and prayed for by the disciples, was to be set up 
never more to be thrown down; how the kingdoms of this 
world were to become the kingdom of our Lord and His 
Christ; how the promise of Jesus was about to be made good, 
that upon this rock (of revelation) would He found His 
church, and the gates of hell should not prevail against it, and 
how the Saints should possess the kingdom of the Most High. 

John the Revelator, bound and captive upon the Isle of 
Patmos, had the vision of heaven opened up to him, and he 
saw an angel leave the throne of G-od and wend his flight to 
this planet. A new song was being sung in heaven; the day 
and the hour had come when the dispensation of the fullness 
of times was to be ushered in (Eph. i. 10; Matt. xxiv. 33). 
when God would send His angels to bring order out of chaos, 
system out of confusion, and gather His people (the honest-in- 
heart) together in one place, that they might prepare them- 
selves to welcome the Great King of the world when He 
should come in clouds of glory, surrounded by His angels. 

"I saw," says John, "another angel fly in the midst 
of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them 
that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and 
tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and 
give glory to him; for the hour of His judgment is come " 
(Rev. xiv. 6). 

This, then, was how the gospel was to be restored to the earth. 

" But," says the reader, " I thought the gospel was already 
upon the earth." 

If so, what necessity was there for an angel to come from 
heaven with the everlasting gospel, if it was already being 



TESTIMONY OF THE THREE WITNESSES. 

taught to men? And, dear reader, you can readily see that 
none are expected. It was to every nation, kindred, tongue, 
and people — proving conclusively that the gospel was not on 
the earth, but that the day had come when darkness covered 
the earth, and gross darkness the people. 

How must the angels around the throne have shouted for 
joy when the decree went forth, and the commandment was 
given, for the initiatory steps to be taken to reclaim this planet 
from the grasp of " Lucifer, the son of the morning," and to 
fit and prepare it for the habitation of angels, celestialized 
beings and Grod ! 

How must our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, in 
the spirit world, with all the saints of by-gone ages, have 
rejoiced to know that the redemption of the world was nigh, 
and the promise of Paul to the Thessalonians (iv. 16) that 
" the dead in Christ shall rise first," was to be made good ! 

Reader, we now beg of you to lay aside prejudice, and to 
examine what follows, with an honest intention, and a desire 
to do right ; to know the will of Grod and do it ; for great and 
mighty events are daily transpiring, that were prophesied of 
by all the holy prophets, from the days of Adam down until 
to-day. 

The gospel that the angel was to bring back to the earth was 
for every nation. 

Angels have not, in times gone by, preached to or taught 
the masses of the people, but have delegated this power to 
men. So, in this instance men become the recipients of the 
precious charge, the Everlasting Gospel. 

THE TESTIMONY OP THE THREE WITNESSES. 

" Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto 
whom this work* shall come. * * We declare with words of sober- 
ness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought 
and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the 
engravings thereon : and we know that it is by the grace of God the 
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ that we beheld and bear record 
that these things are true ; and it is marvelous in our eyes, neverthe- 
less the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record 

* The Book of Mormon. 



12 THE PRIESTHOOD CONFERRED. 

of it ; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we 
bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faith- 
ful in Christ we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and 
be found spotless before the judgement seat of Christ, and shall 
dwell with him eternally in the heavens. 

"Oliver Cowdery, 
"David Whitmer, 
"Martin Harris." 

We have now, hurriedly, traced the outlines of the doctrines 
of Jesus Christ as they were in the primitive Christian church ; 
the apostasy of the people from the truth, the fulfillment ot the 
prophecies of great and mighty prophets ; the building up of 
an apostate church, the whore of all the earth, the mother of 
harlots ; noticing the fact that she gave birth to a numerous 
offspring, who, true to their born instinct, as like begets like, 
are to-day vigorously engaged in throwing stones at their 
mother church, or grandmother, as the case may be. 

We have shown how the gospel was to be restored to the 
earth, and have given the testimony of the three witnesses to 
the Book of Mormon. We will now examine further proof 
relative to this remarkable proclamation. 

We have seen that it, so far, has been incontestibly shown 
that if the Bible be true, that in no other way than this could 
God's work have been brought about. We now quote from 
the history of Joseph Smith, the great Latter-day Prophet, 
Seer and Revelator : 

"We (Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery) still continued the 
work of translation; when in the ensuing month (May, 1829) we, 
on a certain day, went into the woods to pray, and inquire of the 
Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins. 

"While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the 
Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, 
and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us; saying unto 
us — ' Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I 
confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the 
ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of 
baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall 
never be taken from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer 
again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.' 



THE PRIESTHOOD CONFERRED. 13 

"The messenger who visited us on this occasion, and conferred 
this Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same 
that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament; and that 
he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, who held 
the keys of the Melchisedec Priesthood, and who would in due 
season visit us and confer that, the higher Priesthood, upon us, 
which holds the keys of the laying on of hands for the gift of 
the Holy Ghost and right to all the offices in the Church." 

Thus was the way opened up for the ushering in of the 
great latter-day dispensation and the fullness of the everlast- 
ing gospel. 

"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the 
days of the Son of Man " {Luke xvii. 26); and as Noah knew 
when the flood was to come, and prepared himself therefor, 
so the comparison would not be complete unless some knew of 
the second coming of the Savior. 

But, says one, "of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, 
not the angels of heaven, but my father only " {Matt. xxiv. 
36); and the same could have been said appropriately of 
the birth of our Lord two thousand years prior thereto. 
But as the first coming was heralded by angels who came 
to the shepherds upon the plains of Bethlehem, and lighted 
the earth with their glory, singing the glad songs of 
"Peace on earth, good will towards men," so His second 
coming was ushered in by visits to the earth of great and 
mighty angels. 

John the Baptist came to confer the Priesthood of 
Aaron. 

Peter, James and John the Revelator came to confer the 
Melchisedec Priesthood. 

Elijah came {Mai. iv. 5), to turn the hearts of the fathers 
to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers. 
(I. Peter Hi. 18, 19, 20 ; iv. 6 ; /. Cor. xv. 19-29). 

Moses came to confer the keys of the gathering of the 
house of Israel to their promised land — the carrying of the 
Jews back to Jerusalem, of the ten tribes from the north 
country {Jer. xxxi. 8, 9 ; Ezek. xx. 34, 35), and of the 
descendants of Joseph (the American Indians) to their 



14 THE PRIESTHOOD CONFERRED. 

Michael, or Adam, came to give the authority that links the 
generations of men together, from the days of Father Adam 
down to to-day. 

In short, all the authority necessary has been received to 
enable men to become co-workers with Jehovah, angels and 
the spirits of just men made perfect, in building up an ever- 
lasting kingdom, instead of the man-made governments of 
to-day. A kingdom is to be established to which the great 
King shall speedily come, "in the clouds of glory, " surrounded 
by His angels ; and the saints of other days, who are singing 
the songs of heaven, will speedily have fulfilled the words of 
John, ' 'He has made us kings and priests unto the Lord our 
God, and we shall reign on earth." 

The promise of Jesus that "the meek shall inherit the 
earth " is coming to pass, as also the words of Job : "I know 
that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter 
day upon the earth : and though after my skin worms destroy 
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God : whom I shall see 
for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another ' ' (Job 
xix. 25-27). 

All these and many more grand and glorious promises are 
about to be fulfilled. The decree has gone forth, God hath 
declared by His own mouth, and the mouths of all the holy 
prophets, that His power and authority over the earth will be 
asserted ; and who is man, to contend with God ? 

An appeal is made to the honest-in-heart to heed this call — 
to pause, to meditate, to ask God, "who giveth to all men 
liberally, ' ' for wisdom to know what to do. 

Here are evidences worthy of their attention : 

The testimony of the three witnesses; the signs following the 
believers ; the eyes of the blind opened ; the ears of the deaf 
unstopped ; the tongue of the dumb made to sing ; the lame 
man to leap as an hart ; devils cast out ; unknown tongues 
spoken, and the interpretation thereof given by the spirit of 
inspiration ; prophecy fulfilled, and the Spirit of God making 
manifest to the honest-in-heart the great fact that God has 
again spoken from the heavens. 

These things are not done or spoken in a dark corner, but 
as good men as are in existence to-day testify of them. 



GATHERING. 15 

Many questions are asked relative to our belief on the sub- 
ject of gathering, and we again turn to the scriptures to 
answer the questions : 

' ' And it shall come to pass in the last days that the moun- 
tain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the 
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills : and all nations 
shall flow unto it." (Isa. ^^, 2-4). 

"And He will lift up an ensign to the nations from afar, 
and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth : and, 
behold, they will come with speed swiftly." (Isa. v. 26, 27). 
"And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall 
assemble the outcasts of Israel' ' (not the Jews alone, but all 
Israel), "and gather together the dispersed of Judah from 
the four corners of the earth." (Isa xi, 12). 

"I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their 
fathers." (Jer. xvx, 3). 

"Behold, I will bring them from the north country and 
gather them from the coasts of the earth. ' ' {Jer. xxxi, 
8-14). 

"I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you 

out of the countries wherein ye are scattered." (Ezek. xx, 34). 

' ' I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you 

out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. ' ' 

(Ezek. xxxvi, 24). 

" Blow the trumpet, * * gather the people, * * 
assemble the Elders. " {Joelii, 15, 16). 

"And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a 
trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the 
four winds." {Matt, xxiv, 31). 

"That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might 
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in 
heaven and which are on earth." (Eph. ?', 10). 

" Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of 
her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. ' ' (Rev. xviii, 
4). 
The reader asks, "What are we to come out of ? " 
Out of "Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots 
and abominations of the earth." (Rev. xvii, 5). 
" Who and what is that ? " 



16 PROPHECY CONCERNING WAR. 

"The waters which thou sawest where the whore ' ' (mystery, 
Babylon) "sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, 
and tongues." (Rev. xvii. 15). 

So out of every nation, kindred, tongue and people shall 
the honest-in-heart be gathered to a great central gathering 
place, to be protected while the scourges of Grod pass over the 
earth. 

Read the following prophecy and study the signs of the 
times : 

PROPHECY OF JOSEPH SMITH, THE SEER, GIVEN IN 1832. 

"Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will- 
shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, 
which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many 
souls. 

" The day will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, 
beginning at that place. 

"For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the 
Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other 
nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they 
shall also call upon other 'nations, in order to defend themselves 
against other nations; and thus war shall be poured out upon all 
• nations. 

"And it shall come to pass after many days slaves shall rise 
up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for 
war. 

" And it shall come to pass also, that the remnants who are left of 
the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly 
angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation ; 

" And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed, the inhabitants of 
the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earth- 
quakes, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid light- 
nings also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel 
the wrath and indignation and chastening hand of an Almighty 
God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all 
nations; 

" That the cry of the Saints, and the blood of the Saints, shall cease 
to come up in the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth, from the earth, to be 
avenged of their enemies. 

" Wherefore, stand ye in holy places and be not moved, until the 
day of the Lord come ; for behold it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. 
Amen." 



CONDITION OF THE WORLD. 17 

Has this prophecy been fulfilled ? Let the people of the 
north and south answer the query. 

Let the thoughtful reader stop and reflect for a moment on 
the condition of affairs upon the face of the whole earth. 
The sword is reaping its harvest of death ; nation warring 
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Famine is 
asserting its sway and untold thousands are starving, perish- 
ing, dying for lack of food. Pestilence, in all its horrid forms, 
stalks in the train of these dire calamities. Earthquakes are 
making the earth to tremble. Storms, whirlwinds and cyclones 
are sweeping away cities, towns and villages. The sea, heav- 
ing itself beyond its bounds, is thundering its testimonies into 
the ears of the children of men. Signs in the heavens above 
and in the earth beneath, betoken the fact that great and 
mighty events are at our doors. Fear has taken hold upon the 
hearts of the strong men and the mighty men. Man distrusts 
his fellow-man. Nations and peoples have become corrupted; 
fraud and peculation are sapping the vitals of the man-made 
governments of the earth. The people are tossed to and fro 
by every wind of doctrine that comes along ; and when will 
the end be ? 

Startle not, reader, for it will not be until He comes whose 
right it is to rule and reign as King of kings. Not until Jesus 
of Nazareth sets His feet upon the earth and brings order out 
of chaos, system out of cod fusion and bids the angry waves of 
a sin-tossed world "Peace, be still," will there be peace among 
men. 

"Now," says one, "I understand His meaning when He 
said, 'I come not to bring peace, but a sword ;' " but thanks 
be to the Most High the day is near at hand when "the meek 
shall inherit the earth," when "sorrow and sighing shall flee 
away," when "the tabernacle of God" will be "with men, and 
He will dwell with them. * * And G-od shall wipe away 
all tears from their eyes ; and there shall be no more death 
neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more 
pain" {Rev. xxi. 3, 4). 

But, oh ! the woe, the want, the misery, the evils and the 
lamentation that will go up from the face of the earth before 
that day does come ! All ye people of the earth, heed, oh, 



18 AUTHORITY. 

heed the warning voice that Grod sends to you and go out 
from the midst of Babylon ere another angel shall fly through 
the midst of heaven, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen !" 

Ye Saints of the living God, ceasa not your efforts until 
your feet stand in safe places, in the tops of the mountains, 
in the shadow of "the house of the God of Jacob,' 1 where 
you may more fully learn of "His ways and walk in His 
paths;" for the day is near at hand when "the law shall go 
forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" 
(Micah iv. 2.) 

The time is fast approaching when "the kingdoms of this 
world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ," 
and when John's prophetic vision shall be fulfilled: "And I 
saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given 
unto them : and I saw the souls of men that were beheaded 
for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of Grod, * * and 
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Rev. 
xx. 4). 

The time has come for the righteous — the redeemed "out 
of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," to be 
gathered out, to become kings and priests unto Grod, and to 
"reign on the earth" [Rev. v. 9, 10). 

AUTHORITY. 

In a brief manner this subject has been previously alluded 
to, but a more extended examination is deemed necessary, 
owing to the importance that attaches to it. 

This principle enters largely into every department of man's 
existence upon the earth. Governments are mainly founded 
upon it, and authority is fundamentally necessary to establish 
republics, empires, monarchies and principalities. 

The President of the United States must first conform to 
certain laws and requirements before his acts as President 
are legal and binding upon the people ; so also with all the 
affairs of the general government. And this is likewise true 
of the State officials, including the governors, judges, 
legislators, sheriffs, magistrates, and even the unimportant 
office of bailiff can only be filled by a man who has fulfilled all 
he requirements necessary and demanded by the law of the 
land. 



AUTHORITY. 19 

A man who would undertake to fill one of the offices 
alluded to, without conforming to the law, would be counted 
an impostor and dealt with as the law directs. 

All civilized nations recognize this principle and act accord- 
ingly. Even church organizations jDlace great stress upon the 
necessity that there exists for men to be ordained to their 
several offices ; and a man, before he can legally perform the 
marriage ceremony, must first conform to certain rules and 
laws laid down by the church authority to render the marriage 
legal. A lay member could not act in the capacity of an elder 
until authority has been granted him by those who held the 
power to give authority. Neither could an elder fill the office 
of a bishop without first conforming to certain rules. 

These rules are necessary to the good government of society 
and the people generally, and without them confusion con- 
founded would reign supreme. 

If every man who desired to act as governor was to >et up his 
claims and be allowed to act in that capacity, there would be 
an end to order. So with all other offices. A few men would 
sustain one man as governor, other men would sustain another 
man, and still other men would sustain their man, until event- 
ually brute force would be the means whereby men would hold 
their offices. 

This principle applies also to admitting men to be citizens 
of a government. A man who comes from some foreign nation 
and seeks to become a citizen of the United States must 
obtain his papers of citizenship and take the oath of alleg- 
iance. Not only must he attend to these duties, but he must 
see that the officer who signs his papers and administers the 
oath is a duly accredited officer of the government ; otherwise 
his papers are worthless and he is not yet a citizen. 

If these things be true as regards man's temporal salvation 
how much more true are they when applied to eternal matters! 

Daniel, the young Hebrew prophet, had the visions of 
futurity opened up to him and saw the time when God would 
establish a kingdom upon the earth, never more to be thrown 
down [Dan. ii. 44; vii. 27). 

Many hundreds of years after Daniel's day, Jesus of Naza- 
reth came upon the earth and reiterated the assertion of 



20 AUTHORITY. 

Daniel, and told His diciples to continue "unceasingly to pray 
for that kingdom to be set up, ' ' and through one of His apos- 
tles He revealed how the kingdom was to be established. 

John the beloved disciple says : ' l I saw another angel fly 
in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel" (or 
the laws of this kingdom) "to preach" (or proclaim) "unto 
them that dwell on the earth" {Rev. xiv. 6). 

It would naturally be supposed that the heavenly messenger 
would be endowed with authority to empower men to admit 
citizens into the kingdom he came to establish, and that no 
one could take this authority unto himself "but he that is 
called of God as was Aaron ; ' ' and that he who might dare to 
do so, without first being authorized, would render himself 
liable to the penalty God's law inflicts upon all impostors, 
usurpers and wolves in sheep's clothing generally. 

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God," was the command 
of the Great King, who in the future is to rule over this king- 
dom. But before the reader can do so he must first find out 
what it is like ; and in this matter we are not left in doubt, for 
Jesus and His apostles have placed upon record the names of 
the oflicers necessary in the kingdom, the necessary laws to 
govern and control it, the manner of admitting citizens and, in 
short, all the details, so that the "wayfaring man, though a 
fool, need not err" in seeking to obey the command, "seek ye 
first the kingdom of God. ' ' 

By turning to the writings of Paul (/. Cor. xii. 28), we 
find that "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, 
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers." 

Now if this is the pattern of the oflicers of the kingdom 
(Church), all we have to do is to start upon our search and 
examine the various claims that are set up ; for there are a 
multitude of organizations that lay claim to the title of the 
church or kingdom of God. 

It is not necessary to hunt in the midst of the heathen and 
pagan nations of the earth, for they lay no claim to the title, 
but will answer you frankly, "We know nothing of your king- 
dom or its oflicers. ' ' Then let us turn to the Catholic world 
and examine their claims. We find that they have a pope, 
cardinals and priests, but no apostles nor prophets, no officers 



AUTHORITY. 21 

to correspond to the description given, by Paul. Next let us 
view the Protestant denomination. Go back to the earliest 
reformers Huss, Luther, Melanchthon, Calvin, Knox, Henry 
VIII. and Wesley. Examine all their organizations and we 
find none of them lay claim to having these officers in their 
churches, but, on the contrary, ignore and repudiate them by 
saying, "They are no longer needed." 

Examine all denominations, all orders, all faiths, and we 
find that in this respect they are deficient and lacking, while 
poor, weak, fallible man sets up his judgment, and by man's 
wisdom seeks to enter the kingdom of God. 

The Christian world acknowledges that it takes legal author- 
ity to make a man a citizen of any temporal government set 
up by man, but when it comes to the government of God, any 
man who sees proper to do so, can start out with a new set of 
ideas, called a creed, and establish a church, baptize, bless 
the communion, and go forward in this way, ordaining men 
to various offices, and yet denying all the time that God has 
revealed anything, or bestowed any gift of authority. 

Are these legal officers of the kingdom of God? Is the 
reader so far lost in the mazes of tradition as to suppose for 
one moment that God will recognize officers appointed in any 
such way, much less their acts ? 

But lest we do injustice to these different denominations, let 
us give them one more chance to prove their position correct : 
for we would gladly avoid seeing the whole Christian world in 
error and transgression. 

Paul, the great apostle, says that God placed in the Church, 
in addition to its officers, "miracles, then gifts of healings, 
helps, governments, diversities of tongues," and urged upon 
the people to seek earnestly for these gifts. 

Search the world over and find, if you can, an organiza- 
tion, other than that represented by the Latter-day Saints, 
that lays claim to and possesses these great blessings. 

The Christian world, having changed the order of the 
Church of God, have lost these gifts, and, in endeavoring to 
justify themselves, say they are no longer needed. Some of 
them, more honorable than the rest, acknowledge the true state 
of affairs and confess the lamentable condition they are in. 



22 AUTHORITY. 

Mr. Wesley states that the reason the gifts are no longer in 
the church, "is because the love of many waxed cold, and the 
Christians had turned heathen again, and had only a dead 
form left" (see Vol. I. Sermon 94). 

Smith's Bible Dictionary (page 163) also says. "We must 
not" expect to see the church of holy scriptures actually exist- 
ing in its perfection on the earth. It is not to be found thus 
perfect either in the collected fragments of Christendom, or 
still less in any one of those fragments." The names of sixty- 
five learned divines and Biblical scholars are on the preface 
page, as contributors to and endorsers of this book. 

Dr. Adam Clark, in his commentaries (page 452) on the 4th 
chapter of Ephesians, says . "All these officers and the gifts 
and graces conferred upon them were judged necessary by the 
Great Head of the church, for its full instruction in the 
important doctrines of Christianity. The same officers and 
gifts are still necessary, and God gives them but they do not 
know their places." 

Roger Williams refused to continue as pastor over the oldest 
Baptist church in America on the grounds that there was "no 
regularly constituted church on earth, nor any person author- 
ized to administer any church ordinance ; nor can there be, 
until new apostles are sent by the Great Head of the church 
for whose coming I am seeking' ' (see Picturesque America, 
page 502). 

Till that great and notable day of the Lord come, we can- 
not, from the prophetic word anticipate a universal return 
to the original gospel, or a general restoration of the kingdom 
of God, in its primitive form" (Christianity Restored, Alex 
Campbell, page 181). 

Having brought forward for the consideration of the reader 
the foregoing points, we now proceed to examine the results 
that will naturally flow from this terrible situation of affairs ; 
and while we do so, we plead with you, reader, to lay aside 
prejudice, and, as you value your soul's salvation, seek earn- 
estly to know the truth ; "for what doth it profit a man if he 
gain the whole world and lose his own soul. ' ' 

Having thrown aside the officers of the church, Christianity 
lost its authority and could no longer administer in the 



AUTHORITY. 26 

ordinances of the gospel for the salvation of the souls of the 
children of men. Instead of the officers and endowments of 
the kingdom of God, man-made doctrines and changeable 
creeds have been substituted, until to-day the Christian world 
is "driven and tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine." 
Weakness, imbecility and lack of authority are written on its 
every movement; vice, sin and wrong-doing prosper and flour- 
ish under the very droppings of the sanctuary. 

To-day one theory is taught, to-morrow another. Men have 
"builded cisterns that will not contain water;" in short, have 
turned from the apostle at the head of the church, and the 
prophet in the church of the living God, and heaped to 
themselves teachers, having itching ears, who have turned the 
hearts of the people from the truth, and led them astray after 
fables, until "darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness 
the minds of the people." 

Conflicting creeds and faiths fill the world with a war of 
words, until the hearts of honest men become sick, sick ! Sick 
of the petty jealousies and miserable trickery of professing 
Christianity — sending the blood-guilty murderer, with his 
hands reeking with the blood of his victims, to eternal glory 
swung from the gallows, with a rope around his neck, into 
the presence of Diety ; while an honest man, because he dif- 
fers from them in belief, must be consigned to a never-ending 
hell! 

consistency ! thy name is not modern Christianity ! 

Without apostles, without prophets, without the gifts, 
without authority, shorn of all thy pristine beauty and loveli- 
ness, all thy grandeur and glorious attributes ; torn and divided 
into a multitude of fragments, continually dividing and sub- 
dividing, thy talk sounds like that of the Scribes of old, ' 'with- 
out authority. ' ' 

And what of thy teachers? "Blind leaders of the blind." 
Prophecy foretells their doom : Struggling to uphold the col- 
umns of the house of Babylon, the dwelling place of "the 
mother of harlots," and her numerous offspring, they will be 
crushed in her downfall, unless they speedily repent arid turn 
to the true and living God, be baptized for the forgiveness of 
their sins, and receive the laying on of hands for the gift of 



24 AUTHORITY. 

the Holy Ghost, that will "lead them into all truth, and bring 
to their remembrance things of the past, and show them 
things to come, for the promise is unto all that u the Lord our 
God shall call." To members of churches as well as non- 
members — to the whole world does this proclamation come. 

God has set up His kingdom vpon the earth, never more to be 
thrown down. His duly-appointed and authorized officers are 
ready to admit men and women as citizens of this kingdom. 
He or she who hears the sound of this gospel and heeds it not 
will be under condemnation. He or she who heeds and ren- 
ders obedience to it will reap life everlasting. 

God will not recognize the man-made devices whereby men 
seek to save themselves by climbing up some other way. He 
will repudiate the acts of unauthorized men who administer in 
the ordinances of the gospel ; and after once this gospel comes 
to their ears, if they persist in their course, it will bring con- 
demnation upon their heads. Before they heard it, "they 
had no sin " in not obeying ; now "they have no cloak for their 
sin," the truth having been taught. 

"If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, 
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" {John 
vii. 17). 

May the peaceful influence of the Holy Spirit be with those 
who desire to know the truth and come unto God, and serve 
Him with all their "might, mind and strength." 

PRICE-LIST OF CHURCH WORKS. 



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HAND-BOOK OF REFERENCE to the History, Chronology, Religion and 

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Printed and for sale at the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR Office, 
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